E-News

Yokohama terminates its technology tie-ups with Kumho Tire Co.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018
- Tokyo, Japan - Yokohama has terminated its technology tie-ups with Kumho Tire Co., Inc., effective as of July 6, 2018. Yokohama and Kumho Tire entered into the master technological alliance agreement on February 15, 2014, and entered into the cooperative research and development agreement, as well as the license and technology exchange agreement on May 31, 2014, with the goal of working together to develop the tire-related future technologies, including environmentally-friendly tire technologies and new concept tires. This time, these agreements were terminated based on the terms and conditions thereof due to the recent change in Kumho Tire’s controlling shareholders.

Samir Group to build a rubber processing plant including 1,000 hectare source plantation in Ghana

Tuesday, August 14, 2018
- Accra, Ghana - The management of Samir Group is establishing a rubber processing plant in the eastern region of Ghana by next year under Ghana's government district industrialization program, One-district, One-factory (1D1F) initiative. Subsequently, the company says it has began a 1,000 hectare rubber plantation to serve as raw material for the factory. The chairman of the group, Nazem Karroum, who disclosed this to the media at a seminar by the Samir Group in Accra, observed that the processing plant would export its products to tire manufacturing factories. “We are planning to set up a rubber processing plant in the eastern region with the hope of sourcing its raw materials from our new rubber plantation,” he said. Asked whether the group would consider setting up a tire factory in the country, Karroum responded in the negative, saying the volumes of usage does not support such an idea. “The usage volume of tires does not justify the idea of manufacturing tires in Ghana. Most international tire factories produce between seven and eight million tires per year and the consumption in the country is below that level,” he said. Also, he stated that presently the rubber plantation, also located in the eastern region, employs more than 200 temporary workers and about 70 permanent staff. Karroum said he was hopeful the company would be able to use its new industrialization drive to help reduce the employment rate in the country.

USTMA appoints Sean Moore director of government affairs

Tuesday, August 14, 2018
- Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has announced the appointment of Sean Moore as director of government affairs. In this role, Moore will guide strategy for USTMA’s federal government affairs program and lead the association’s state advocacy efforts working with member companies and allied organizations. Moore joins USTMA with more than a decade of experience directing trade association government affairs programs. Most recently, he was director of state and local government affairs for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, where he was responsible for implementing the association's advocacy agenda in all 50 states. In addition, Moore worked for the Consumer Specialty Products Association (now known as the Household and Commercial Products Association), where he directed government affairs strategy in 24 states and oversaw the association's Industrial and Automotive Products Division and its automotive affiliate. "Sean is an accomplished leader with extensive experience running successful industry government affairs programs and will be a valuable asset to our strong USTMA team. Under Sean’s direction, the USTMA will continue to advocate for improved tire safety performance, champion the industry’s domestic economic contributions, promote policies to develop and incentivize scrap tire markets, and lead efforts to enact unsafe used tire legislation,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO. A Maryland native, Moore has also lived in Great Falls, MT, where he volunteered as an AmeriCorps VISTA community liaison with Rural Dynamics, Inc. Moore received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Dickinson College and a Master's in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018
- Greenville, SC - BFGoodrich Tires introduced two of its most popular car and light-truck tire lines in new fitments for the most widely used police pursuit vehicles. The tires are designed and made in the United States and have been accepted on the U.S. Government's Cooperative Approved Tire List (CATL), which lists tires capable of handling police duties. Whether law enforcement agencies are seeking ultra-high-performance or all-season capabilities from the tires on their fleets, the new products from BFGoodrich meet the stringent demands of police duty vehicles in a previously limited marketplace. The BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport is now available in three CATL-approved sizes common to law enforcement vehicles. This all-season tire has 12 percent better-wet braking, 15 percent better snow traction, 15 percent better dry handling and has 25 percent better tread wear than the previous generation. The BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S is a CATL-approved ultra-high-performance all-season tire that accelerates faster with the best wet and dry traction vs. leading competitors. The tire stops up to 15 feet shorter on wet roads and up to five feet shorter on dry roads vs. leading competitors. Police vehicles will also experience better snow traction compared with leading competitors.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018
- Chandler, AZ – Rogers Corporation introduces Bisco HT-350, a superior sealing cellular silicone solution for gasketing and sealing applications that require light weight, flame resistance and low compression force. Said to be ideal for a wide variety of enclosures, the medium firmness Bisco HT-350 is a super seal cellular silicone material that uses new technology to pair the lightweight properties of a foam with superior sealing capabilities. With as little as 5 percent compression (using the standard ASTM F37 test method), the material is said to provide the exceptional performance expected by Rogers customers for industrial, automotive or mass transit enclosures where cushioning, vibration isolation and insulation must withstand a wide range of environmental extremes. This material is flame resistant, meeting UL94 highest standards. In large volume production, Bisco HT-350 is said to offer a cost-effective solution. Dan Kubick, Rogers’ product manager for Bisco silicones, states, “We’re very pleased to add this new world class Bisco HT-350 super seal foam offering to our portfolio of high performance sealing solutions. By expanding our product line, we can offer designers increased choice and flexibility along with the reliability they expect from our Bisco products. This improved sealing capability means customers can design in with a lower thickness material which will reduce the overall cost of ownership.”